License! Global's 2013 Flick Picks

Consumer products inspired by films is a classic sector for licensed merchandise. And early box office estimates for massive blockbusters like Marvel's

Iron Man 3

, which took in $174.1 million domestically and $198.4 million overseas in its opening weekend in early May and crossed the $1 billion mark 23 days later, clearly show the enormous potential to market goods to an eager fanbase. The earning potential on product programs is great, and the amount of touchpoints a film can inspire is second to none.

To that end,

License! Global's

presents its annual Flick Pics feature as a resource to chart films with licensing potential in 2013, 2014 and even into 2015.

As mentioned, Marvel has a wealth of film properties set to debut over the next several years. With the completion of what the studio has dubbed "Phase 1" of the Marvel movie universe with the release of last year's staggeringly lucrative

The Avengers

(it drew more than $1.5 billion worldwide),

Thor: The Dark World

,

Captain America: The Winter Soldier

and

The Avengers 2

are just a few movies that licensees should most certainly keep on their radar.

Disney Pictures has several animated films scheduled for release in 2013 and beyond such as

Monsters University

and

Planes

that, if their predecessors are any indication, will sell-through on shelf.

DreamWorks brings new franchises to the table with films such as

Turbo

,

Mr. Peabody & Sherman

and

Happy Smekday!

, along with sequels such as

How to Train Your Dragon 2

,

Penguins of Madagascar

and

Kung Fu Panda 2

with obvious product program potential.

Lionsgate will release the second, third and now fourth films in The Hunger Games franchise (the program for the first movie was a massive success at retail for the studio and its licensing agent Striker Entertainment), while Warner Bros. will complete its The Hobbit franchise in 2013 and 2014. Not to be outdone by Marvel, Warner Bros. has also got a new superhero franchise on its hands with this summer's release of

Man of Steel

, a re-telling of the classic Superman legend.

But these über popular blockbusters are just the tip of the iceberg for films with licensed product potential. Inside these pages, find a guide to what you need to know for film licensing in the years to come.

Click here to view the Flick Pics Report.